The price of milk paid to producers rebounded in January 2026 after nine consecutive months of decline. Calculations by Cepea, from Esalq/USP, show that the price of milk to producers collected in January 2026 closed at R$ 2.0216/liter in the "Brazil Average," a slight increase of 0.9% compared to December 2025, but a sharp drop of 26.9% compared to January 2025, in real terms (values were deflated by the IPCA of January 2026). :: Dairy products appreciate in February, but prices are still below 2025 levels. Research conducted by Cepea, with support from OCB (Organization of Brazilian Cooperatives), indicated that, after successive months of declines, the prices of UHT milk and mozzarella cheese rebounded in February in the São Paulo wholesale market: increases compared to the previous month were 4.51% and 0.58%, respectively. Despite increased exports, rising imports widen the trade deficit. Dairy exports increased in February. Even so, the Brazilian trade deficit did not decrease because there was an increase in foreign purchases. According to data from Secex analyzed by Cepea, dairy shipments rose 17.32% between January and February, totaling 5.04 million liters in Milk Equivalent (EqL). Imports, in turn, totaled 182.03 million liters EqL in February, an increase of 1.96% compared to the first month of the year. The Brazilian dairy trade deficit closed February at 177 million liters EqL, 1.6% higher than the previous month. In value, it was US$ 72.18 million, an increase of 0.7%. With rising feed, fertilizer, and soil amendment prices, costs increase for another month. The expenses incurred by dairy farmers to carry out their activities registered a new increase in February, driven by rising prices for feed, fertilizers, and soil amendments among the states evaluated by Cepea.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.